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Intelligence Squared

Western Liberal Democracy Would be Wrong for China

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.21.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2013

⏱️ 101 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

People everywhere are better off living in liberal democracy: that has been the reigning assumption of the western world. But could it be we’ve got it wrong? If you were one of the world’s billions of poor peasants might you not be better off under a system dedicated to political stability and economic growth – one that has lifted 400 million out of poverty – rather than one preoccupied with human rights, the rule of law, and the chance to vote out unpopular rulers? Thanks to the Chinese model of government life expectancy in Shanghai is now higher than in New York. So is China better off without democracy? Or is that just the age-old mantra of the tyrant? — We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.  Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.  And if you’d like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared.. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:05.6

But so is this.

0:07.2

We're here together for a 10 minute empathy meditation.

0:10.5

And even this.

0:11.9

We get here in with a 20 minute hip-hop shadow boxes session.

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This is Peloton. Internet Connection and Peloton all acts as membership required.

0:28.6

C1 Peloton. UK.

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To learn more, don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest.

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This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

1:00.2

Thank you for downloading this Intelligence Square podcast.

1:03.0

For more information on our debates, talks and discussions,

1:07.0

visit Intelligents Square.com.

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